Chemical Engineers
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Sample of reported job titles:
Chemical Engineer, Development Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Scientist, Process Control Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Refinery Process Engineer, Research Chemical Engineer, Scientist
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
- Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
- Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software:Absorption process simulation software,Applied Flow Technology AFT Arrow,Applied Flow Technology AFT Fathom,AspenTech aspenONE,Cerebro CerebroMix,ChemicaLogic SteamTab,Chempute Software Engineer's Aide SINET,Chempute Software SuperPro Designer,Chempute Software VisiMix,Chemstations CHEMCAD,Control Station ENGINEER,EPCON International CHEMPRO Engineering Suite,EPCON International SiNET,EPCON International SYSTEM 7 Process Explorer,G&P Engineering Software EngVert,G&P Engineering Software PipeDrop,Laboratory information management system LIMS,Madison Technical Software Chempak Plus,Madison Technical Software Enviropak,Madison Technical Software Steampak,Minitab,Prode PD-Plus,SoftLab PHEdesign,Statistical software,The MathWorks MATLAB,Thermal Analysis Systems The Energy Analyst
- Computer aided design CAD software:Autodesk AutoCAD,CD-adapco STAR-CAD,Computer aided design and drafting CADD software,Computer aided design CAD software,Dassault Systemes CATIA,Dassault Systemes SolidWorks,PTC Creo Parametric
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software:Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Data base user interface and query software:Chempute Software E-Notebook,G&P Engineering Software PhysProps,Microsoft Access,Relational database software,Structured query language SQL
- Desktop publishing software:Desktop publishing software
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Processing Information:Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Analyzing Data or Information:Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Working with Computers:Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Detailed Work Activities
- Conduct validation tests of equipment or processes.
- Design control systems for mechanical or other equipment.
- Design industrial processing systems.
- Determine causes of operational problems or failures.
- Determine operational methods.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail:100% responded"Every day"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:86% responded"Every day"
- Telephone:68% responded"Every day"
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety:64% responded"Very high responsibility"
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled:64% responded"Every day"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Science:Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving:Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Critical Thinking:Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making:Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Mathematics:Using mathematics to solve problems.
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology:Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Chemistry:Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Mathematics:Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Physics:Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
- Design:Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 82%Bachelor's Degree
- 9%Doctoral Degree
- 9%Master's Degree
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Written Comprehension:The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Category Flexibility:The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning:The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Information Ordering:The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning:The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Interests
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Work Values
- Recognition:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Work Styles
- Analytical Thinking:Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Achievement/Effort:Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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